When I got up, it wasn’t sunny—but at least it wasn’t raining. Things gradually brightened up, both in the sky and in spirit. Since Rouen wasn’t far and check-in wasn’t until 2 p.m., I took my time packing and cycled at an easy pace.
Today I mostly followed the Véloroute, as it ran along paved roads for the most part. I streamlined my route bypassing a few pointless detours . Even without rushing, I rolled into Rouen by noon.
To kill some time, I rode up to the Panorama de la Côte Sainte-Catherine for a sweeping view of the city. After settling into the apartment, I wandered through the old town, poked my head into a couple of museums, and unexpectedly enjoyed one focused on ironwork.
Then came a well-deserved ice cream (a good one, thank you), a solid dinner, and I called it a day.
Now I just have to decide whether I want to go to Le Havre or Honfleur. That choice will determine whether I go towards Lillebonne tomorrow or hop on the left bank at Jumièges—but I’ll leave that decision for the morning.
Today in numbers:
76 km – distance cycled
1431 — Jeanne D’Arc was burned at the stake in Place du Vieux-Marché, Rouen
1389 — The Astronomical Clock (Gros Horloge) was installed and still ticks today without electricity
600 000 — jars of Nutella are produced daily at the nearby Villers-Écalles factory, the largest Nutella plant in the world